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Bible studies:
As a diligent student of the Bible, you will want to make sure the Bible really says what this study says. Always remember to test all things with God's word - as the Bereans did. They "received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). First, read the study all the way through, without looking up the Scriptures. Then read the study again, this time looking up the Scriptures. Highlight or mark each verse you look up so you can easily find it later. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Scripture says that when a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away (2 Cor. 3:16). What does "turn to" mean here? The word turn is mentioned in Matthew 13:15 and again in Acts 28:27. "Turn again" is mentioned in Mark 4:12. We see in John 12:40, that the words "be converted" are used instead of "turn to." In Acts 3:19, the expression, "Repent, therefore, and return" is used, but to what are we returning? Acts 6:7 says a great many of the ministers or priests were becoming obedient to the faith. We see, then, that to "turn to" means to turn to the obedience of the faith. Yes, faith in Jesus Christ requires obedience (Rom. 16:26; 1 Peter 1:2; John 3:36). New Testament believers had a reputation for obedience, but what was the faith to which they were obedient (Rom. 16:19)? Jesus Christ says, "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me" (John 12:26). Jesus is telling us that we are expected to live as He lived. How do we do that? We are to keep His sayings (John 12:48; 8:51). Jesus Christ’s sayings are the works He did on this earth as an example, that we should walk in them (John 14:12; Eph. 2:10). We cannot possibly be converted to Jesus Christ if we do not keep His sayings! God says that if we practice living like Christ by keeping His sayings, we are truly born again (1 John 2:29). This is how we overcome evil and resist Satan daily (Rev. 2:26). The veil is taken away from your eyes when you cry out to the Lord for the truth and begin living to please Him in all your ways (2 Cor. 4:3; 3:16; Acts 10:34-35). You can begin to understand many mysteries and spiritual truths that you could not comprehend before. Yet, if you do not practice living like He does, you will never be like He is and you will never clearly understand His Ways. Do not be deceived. Practice makes perfect. You do the practicing and God will do the perfecting. Practicing righteousness daily for God is repentance. It is the Way of righteousness (Matt. 21:32; 2 Peter 2:21). If you have not turned to the Lord and have not started the process of building godly character, why not turn to the Lord today? Begin living the godly Way. Please Him in all you do, and He will make a new person out of you. (Feel free to give copies of this study to others who want to know God’s truth. You will be doing God’s Will when you show and tell others how to live this special Way.) Bible studies:
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